Learning to Walk Again

by S. L. Kassidy

  “Joke all you want, but I’m running this orchestra.” She had to roll her eyes, but she managed to keep in a groan. More like she was running this mismatched band of misfits, which already felt like running a marathon with weights around her neck. No, no, no. Stay positive. This thing could work. “Let’s get to it.”

  Grabbing a stand, Dane pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and put it the stand. It was crumpled and slumped. It certainly didn’t look professional and probably didn’t add to her credibility, but it was what it was. She’d have to start carrying around that portfolio Nicole bought her if this panned out.

  “We can introduce ourselves and everyone gets to see what everyone has. I’m Dane Wolfe, and this piece I wrote is possibly the start of scene two. Do I have a volunteer to play first?”

  The musicians all looked at each other before the trumpeter swaggered up. He was an average guy with a goatee that he had to think was hip. Dane struggled not to roll her eyes again as he squared his shoulders and held his horn like a mighty weapon, ready to take down any who challenged his might. He probably thought he’d read the music and get a good laugh at her. Whatever. If he didn’t impress her, she’d be the one laughing while showing him the door.

  “I’m Louis Graham. Let’s get this out of the way.” He smirked as he stared at the music and then put his trumpet to his lips.

  He wasn’t horrible, but she could think of several other trumpet players she’d grab instead. In fact, they’d probably be grateful for a steady gig and they’d be easier to get along with.

  “Thank you, but no,” Dane said.

  Louis folded his arms across his barrel chest. “I hadn’t planned on working for an obvious poser like you anyway. What the hell do you know about music?”

  “You’ll never know. Thanks, goodbye.” Dane pointed to the door.

  He sucked his teeth and left. She ended up keeping the sax player, Pedro Martinez. He was too good to let go, even though a sax would never be her first pick in a horns section. She had to figure out what she’d do with him and his talent.

  The pianist, Evie Miller, was good. She had a keyboard, which Dane would prefer for the different sounds they’d get, but she was told she’d play the piano set up in the corner of the depressing blue-grey room. Were they going for modern asylum when they painted this place? The piano wasn’t tuned, but Evie did the best anyone could ask of her and it was worthwhile.

  “You definitely need to bring the keyboard,” Dane said.

  Evie nodded. “Hey, as long as I’m not fired, I’ll bring it.”

  “Nope, not fired. Next up.” Dane motioned to the music stand.

  The piccolo player, Dougie Clark, was the hardest. He was spectacular, but Dane wasn’t sure what she’d do with a piccolo. He also played the flute and clarinet. She’d be able to use that versatility. Unfortunately, he was also a jerk, being friends with Louis the trumpeter and not at all happy she fired him. Still, she could work with him.

  The one who stole the show was Samiyah Caro, the violinist. She’d probably be able to beat the Devil in a fiddling contest. As soon as she was done, Dane knew who her star was and knew who to highlight. Andrew couldn’t have possibly hired these guys, not on purpose. They were too talented. Maybe Calvin had put together an orchestra and then Andrew tried to sabotage it in protest. Whatever the case, she needed to glue together more of an orchestra than what she had and needed to know what sort of money she had to work with.

  “Okay, guys. Take a break. I need to go talk with our director.” Dane could only imagine how that’d go. Gotta get it outta the way, though.

  Marching out of the room, Dane went to the front and found Andrew talking with a group of people. Standing off to the side, she waited for him to finish. He glanced at her and then turned his attention to his clipboard.

  “You and your scarf can ignore me all you want, but I’m not going anywhere.” Dane couldn’t believe he actually had the scarf on inside. All he needs is a slouch hat or some khaki pants and he’ll have a douche uniform on.

  Andrew sighed and scowled as he turned to her. “What do you want?”

  “To talk about the script, your vision.” Despite his attitude, she wanted to do his work justice, one artist to another.

  Snorting, he waved her off. “I don’t have time for that. I’ve got way too much to do. The theater still needs cleaning and I need to hire real talent. Read the script. You can read, right?” He looked her up and down, like that answered his question.

  “Just to be clear, you don’t want any input in helping with the music, right?”

  “Didn’t you just say you’re in charge of the score? You fired the people I brought in. Go be with your music.” He turned away, going to boss some other people around.

  “Okay.” Dane shrugged. She’d do her own thing with the music, then. She’d also do her best to avoid interacting with Andrew. No reason to be insulted every time she had a question. Well, best to find out what the budget was and talk to Calvin about the orchestra and his expectations for a score.

  ***

  Nicole reached for her desk phone for the umpteenth time that morning. She wanted to call Danny, but Danny hadn’t left her a number to call. A couple of times, she tripped up and called home. Haydn probably freaked out when the phone rang.

  “Danny has a job.” Nicole smiled, needing to hold back titters. She felt good for Danny. Tutoring wasn’t as fulfilling for her, no matter how much she tried to act like it was.

  She hated that Danny put up a front for her and probably for her parents as well. It was all right for her to need things, all right for her to be unhappy with circumstances. She wanted Danny to pursue things that brought her joy.

  “Danny should have this,” Nicole said aloud. Her heart beat a little quick, though. Change is good and Danny deserves this, so settle down. Still, there was a little bubble in her chest.

  Taking a deep breath, Nicole tried to focus on her work. Change brought Danny to you. Get some work done. Trying to work only made her think about how in a few months she wouldn’t be here anymore. The world almost felt tilted to her, and she hadn’t even left yet.

  Taking a moment, she looked around her office. Would there be an office at the next job? Would there be people who appreciated her on the same level as her current clients did? Would she be happy to be away from law in general? She never had a real problem with law itself, just corporate law. While she was great at it, it never fit her well, like shoes that were a half size too small.

  She didn’t get through much work before there was a knock at her door. For once, she was fine with the distraction. At first, she thought it was Mina, calling her to lunch. It was too early for that, and then she remembered she had an appointment with a client.

  “Karisa, how are you today?” Nicole greeted the woman as she closed the door behind her.

  “I’m doing well. How are you?” Karisa Collins replied with a bright smile. Her mocha eyes sparkled and the few lines on her face seemed to fall right into place.

  Nicole stood to shake the older woman’s hand. Karisa had to switch her purse to her other hand for a proper greeting. “Wonderful. Please, have a seat.” Nicole motioned to the seat to the right of Karisa’s hip.

  Karisa nodded and shrugged off her heavy coat and placed it, along with her bag, in the empty seat next to the chair by her. She eased into the leather chair with unnecessary, but possibly inherent grace. She smoothed a phantom wrinkle on her tan skirt as she crossed her legs at the ankle and leaned back, brushing her wavy blond hair out of her face.

  Karisa was one of Nicole’s favorite clients. She was easy to get along with and almost never high strung. She wasn’t argumentative and never treated Nicole as if she didn’t know what she was doing. Karisa carried herself with a soft dignity and elegance that never seemed to leave her, regardless of what was going on around her. Plus, she was sweet.

  “Give me a moment to get everything I worked up for you,” Nicole said, going into a side draw
er on her desk. She pulled out a folder and brought up the work on her computer.

  “Take your time. I’m sure Jason is just happy to have me out of the office and will not lament if I’m kept out as long as possible. I’m almost surprised he didn’t call you and ask you to stall me,” Karisa said.

  Nicole laughed. “He didn’t, I assure you. How is Jason?”

  Karisa waved a manicured hand, but her eyes twinkled. “I’m driving him crazy according to him. But, if he thinks he’s going to run my business one day, he needs to learn to do it the right way.”

  Nicole smiled. She couldn’t help thinking of her own parents when Karisa spoke of Jason. Jason had voluntarily followed in his mother’s footsteps, but Karisa was always on top of him about operations. She had no doubt Karisa looked forward to the day when she’d gift Jason her natural household cleaning company and he’d definitely jump for joy. Nicole’s parents wanted her name to be on their firm one day and she always thought it’d come to that, but not lately. Soon, I’ll be somewhere else, building something of my own. A sharp pain shot through her heart and her insides felt shredded. It only lasted a moment, but it made her nerves jump. What the hell?

  “I’m sure he thinks he’s doing it the right way,” Nicole said.

  Karisa nodded. “He’s good at marketing, but this is more than marketing. I wanted to show you the new ads he came up with, but let’s get this all out of the way before I take up your time with my son’s things. Of course, you’ll have to promise to never let him know I bragged about him.”

  Nicole laughed again. Karisa was a fascinating distraction. Before Nicole realized it, almost an hour had gone by. Karisa took up most of the time telling her about Jason’s marketing strategy for the company. Karisa even praised other business ideas Jason had, even though Nicole knew she probably teased him.

  “He’ll be good one day when he’s in charge,” Karisa said. “I’m sure your parents feel the same about you.”

  Nicole shifted in her seat and blushed. “Well, you know.” Certainly, the plan had been for her to inherit the firm, but she wasn’t sure if that was in the cards anymore.

  Karisa’s brow furrowed, and she pursed her lips briefly. “Your parents wouldn’t let anyone else run this place.”

  “No, I know. It’s just, I’m about finished with my masters in organic chemistry, and I want to see where that will take me. Law is their passion, not mine.”

  Karisa nodded. “Well, marketing is Jason’s passion, but he still wanted to work with me, even though the business is mine.”

  “I think it’s a little more difficult to connect chemistry and law than business and marketing.”

  “This is true, but it’s not impossible.”

  Nicole knew that was true, but she still wanted to explore her passion for a while. Karisa had never pressured Jason to follow in her footsteps like her parents. Plus, Karisa was a little more laid back than Nicole’s mother.

  “It’ll work out,” Karisa said, as if she just knew.

  Sometimes Nicole believed mothers did just know. “I hope so.”

  Karisa shook her head. “No reason to hope. It will. But, I will say this, I’ll miss coming here to see you over legal matters. You’re brilliant.”

  “Thank you.” Nicole liked to think she was brilliant at everything she put her mind to, with certain exceptions. Still, being brilliant at her current vocation didn’t mean she wanted to do it for the rest of her life. She felt smothered at the firm, and some of that was more than the usual suspects. While her parents had backed off, there was a time when their very presence made her teeth itch, afraid to fail, scared to disappoint, too shook to ever dream of stepping off their path. There was a world out there she only now thought to explore.

  Part of her still hurt at the thought of leaving forever, at abandoning her parents’ second child to people who didn’t know the work, passion, and love that went into the place. Their legacy deserves so much more. And who would treat her parents’ firm with the same love as her parents? Me. But, would it be her pleasure or prison? Of course, that’d be a moot point if she followed her dreams.

  “Congratulations on your degree. If you find at the end of the day, you want to do something with it, well, I do make all-natural cleaning supplies.” Karisa smiled.

  Nicole blinked. Did she just get a job offer? Part of her wanted to jump for joy and another part of her made her stomach twist. I always thought when this moment came, I’d feel nothing but happiness. Why does it feel like I might laugh and throw up at the same time?

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Nicole managed to say around the lump in her throat.

  “Good luck then. I’ll see you later.”

  Karisa stood and took her leave right after Nicole bid her farewell. Nicole barely had a chance to let out a sigh before her phone rang. She hoped it was Danny, and her heart jumped to find it was 'King Theater’ calling. She almost dropped the phone.

  “Nicole Cardell,” she said with as much professionalism as she could muster in case this wasn’t Danny.

  “Hey, Chem.” Danny’s voice seemed to sing through the phone. Nicole’s heart fluttered again.

  “How’s your day going so far, baby?”

  Danny groaned. “It’s definitely something. Andrew tried to sabotage the orchestra. How petty is that? He got pissed when I let three of the musicians go, but what the hell was I supposed to do? What am I going to do with a tambourine player?”

  Nicole’s eyebrows furrowed. Her day does sound adventurous. “A tambourine player? Was he serious?”

  “I don’t know. He argued with me over that and how I can’t fire people without telling him, but I’m pretty sure I can. I’m supposed to be in charge of the music. Think there’s a title that goes with it and everything. I tried talking to him about the script, but he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to tell me how much money I have for the music either.”

  “Talk to Calvin then, Danny. Don’t let Andrew push you around. If he’s not going to cooperate with you, you must go over his head. Calvin seemed like he was the one in charge when you met with them, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then, talk to him and get everything settled. Make sure he gives you clear lines as to what you’re supposed to do. Try to work out any deadlines he might have for you and see how much power Andrew wields in your domain, if any. And maybe find out what your title is. You might like it.” Nicole smiled.

  “Okay. I was gonna do that.” Danny sighed. “Not used to this, you know? Even when I had gigs, I didn’t do a lot of fighting. I could walk away.”

  “Do you want to walk away?”

  “No. I think I could do something cool here. There’s a violinist. She’s…” Danny blew out a breath. “Incredible doesn’t even do it justice. I want to make music for her.”

  Nicole swallowed at those words, and her nerves twitched. For a moment, a buzzing in her head drowned out whatever Danny talked about. The sound of excitement brought her back, though.

  “…and the others are pretty amazing, too. I think I could do something here as soon as I get all the pieces together.”

  “I knew you’d like it.”

  “I do so far.”

  “Have you eaten yet?” Nicole asked. She wasn’t sure why. She probably should’ve let Danny go on about her job, but she was worried the excitement might have Danny forget basic things. “You didn’t eat breakfast. You have to be hungry.”

  “I’m going to go eat as soon as I’m done on the phone. I just wanted to check in on you.”

  “I’d like to be able to return the favor. Do you have a number here?”

  Danny made a low humming sound. “I dunno. I’ll have to ask around and see if there is one. The phone I’m calling from is built into the wall behind the stage, looks like an old pay phone without the coin slot. I don’t know the number for it. Have you eaten yet?”

  “No, but I will.”

  “Okay, well, I want you to eat. We can catch up later. You’re g
onna come get me, right?”

  “Of course.” She’d like taking Danny to work and picking her up. The only problem would come when school started, but that wasn’t for almost another two weeks. She’d worry about it then. She’d worry about everything else later. For now, she wanted to be happy for Danny.

  Chapter Nine

  NICOLE GRABBED DANNY’S HAND as they drove home after a day of work. Danny used her other hand to rub her eyes, which she had done every couple of minutes since she got in car. The day had obviously been stressful, and Danny was probably worn out. Nicole wanted to give her a minute to gather herself before she asked about everything.

  “Are people always stupid?” Danny murmured, glancing at her with stricken eyes. Danny might need a little massage when they got in if only to relieve her tension. Hopefully, the surprise she picked up for Danny during her lunch earlier might help lift her spirits.

  “You know what I think about that.” Nicole gave people the benefit of the doubt. Beyond that, she felt like people were more manipulative and lazy than stupid. “What happened?”

  Danny rubbed her face. “Andrew’s an ass. He fought me every step of the way on little things.”

  “Did you speak with Calvin?” Nicole knew what it was like to have an asshole stand in her way. Sometimes, the only way to get the person out of the way was to go over their heads.

  “I talked to him right after I talked to you, and then we talked to Andrew, and then Andrew continued to be an ass. Gotta assume that’s his personality.”

  Nicole didn’t doubt that. “Well, sometimes that is someone’s personality.”

  Danny sighed, rubbing her eyes. “Forgot the world was populated with assholes.”

  Nicole gave her hand a squeeze. “That’s good.”